Game apparatus.



P. KRfiGER. GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1911. 1 6' cuLuMnM PLANOGRM'II co.. WASHINGTON. v. c.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

SATS P PAUL KR'UGER, or FRIEDLAND-MECKLENBURG, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR 'ro HANS v.

- LUND, or CLINTON, IOWA.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

5 have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in game apparatus and more specifically to that projected or thrown and readily caught,

thereby adapting the same for employment in the playing of a game which will be inter esting and enjoyable and in which skill and practice may be acquired if properly played; hence thereby affording apparatus for playing a game which may be enjoyed by bot-h adults and children. 1

A further object of the invention is'the provision of a game device as mentioned which will be of durable and economical construction and efficient in operation.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view my invention consists in a game apparatus characterized as above mentioned and in certain details of construction and arrangements of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention will be best understood'by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure l is a central longitudinal section of a game device embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

The preferred form of my invention as illustrated in'the drawing comprises a tubular body 1 secured rigidly within which is a plurality of equally spaced bars 2, preferably four inxnumber. Said bars project beyond the forward extremity of the body 1 and are bent outwardly to form a conical or flaring mouth piece frame for the body 1,

the outer ends of said bars being rigidly secured to annular members or rings 3 and 3'. Arranged about the mouth frame thus formed is a net or mesh covering 4;, the outer class thereof designed for employment in edge of said covering embracing the ring 3,

the inner or lower edge thereof embracing a ring 5 rigidly secured at the forward extremity of the body member 1. Thus said covering 4 is securely held in position upon the mouth frame. The lower or rearward extremities of the bars 2 project slightly beyond the corresponding extremity of the body 1, the ends thereof being bent in wardly, a head or circular plate 6 being rigidly secured, preferably by riveting as shown, to said ends. Arranged within the rearward end of the body 1 slightly spaced Ifrom? the head '6 is a diametrically disposed Arranged centrally within the body 1 is a longitudinally extending plunger or rod 8, the same being slidably mounted in the plate 6 and bar 7 which are centrally perforated in order to accommodate the same. Carried at the forward extremity of the plunger 8 is a circular head 9 between which and the guide bar 7 is arranged a helical compression spring 10 embracing the plunger 8. Said spring 10 is adapted normally to hold the plunger 8 at its forward terminal of movement in the body 1, the same being adapted, when said plunger is drawn out-- wardly'in the manner hereinafter described, to efiect the forcible return of said plunger to normal position upon release thereof.

Secured at the lower ends to the head 9 are two diametrically disposed elastic bands 10, preferably of rubber. The outer ends of said bands pass through guide loops 11 secured at diametrically opposite points upon the inner side of the annular frame member 3, the outer ends of said bands being adjustably secured through the medium of bars 12 cooperating with the adjacent portions of the frame member 3, said members 12 being adjustably secured in position by means of screws 13 which pass loosely through perforations provided for the re ception thereof in said frame member 3, the inner ends of sa1d screws being 1n threaded connection wlth the respective ends of sa1d members 12. The arrangement is such, as

will be observed, that by positively rotating said screws said plates 12 may be drawn toward the adjacent portions of the frame member 3 to thereby effect the secure clamping of the adjacent portions of said bands 10 and that by rotating said screws in the oppositedirection said members 12 may be moved inwardly to effect the release of said bands 10. The bands 10, as will be Observed, will, upon outward drawing of the plunger 8, as above mentioned, be extended, so that when said rod is released, said bands will serve, together with the spring 10, to forcibly return said plunger to initial posi tion, said bands thus serving in the same capacity as said spring. However, by reason of the adjustable securing of the outer ends of said bands, the tension thereof relative to the rod 8, when the latter is drawn outwardly, may be regulated, the advantages of this provision being obvious.

Secured to the forward extremity of the rod 8 over the head 9 is a cup 14 adapted to loosely receive a ball 15, the latter being adapted when the plunger 8 is released, after withdrawal as above mentioned, to be projected or thrown from the device. Secured to the rearward or exteriorly projecting extremity of the plunger 8 is a handle or grip 16 by means of which ready manipulation of the plunger 8 is effected. Interposed between the forward extremity of said handle and the plate 6 is a cushion 17, preferably of rubber, which is adapted to absorb the shock incident to the stopping of the plunger 8 and the forcible return thereof, forward movement of said plunger being evidently limited by the forward extremity of the handle 16 which, without the provision of the cushion 17 would abut the outer side of the plate 6. Secured to the mouth frame, adjacent the forward extremity thereof, is a laterally projecting handle 18, the same being secured preferably to one of the bars 2 which is made of double thickness to better accommodate said handie.

In using the device, the latter is held in an upright position, as shown, whereupon the ball 15 is dropped into the mouth thereof. In effecting the projection of said ball, the device is held in one hand, such hand preferably engaging the body 1, the latter 1, said ball, upon release of said plunger,

being projected upwardly through the mouth of the device. By tilting the device, it is evident that said ball may be projected upwardly at any angle and so that the same may be thrown toward an opponent positioned at some distance away.

In catching the ball with the device, the latter is preferably held by the handle 18. A device of the construction as set forth is durable andeconomical, the sameis eflicient in use, and is not susceptible to readily become inoperative.

lVhile I have illustrated and described the preferred construction for carrying my invention into effect this is capable of variation or modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction as set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tubular body open at its forward end; a fiaringmouth for the open end of said body; a plate closing the opposite end; a longitudinally slidable plunger mounted in said body, said plunger extending through said plate and having an exterior-1y positioned operating handle; resilient means for normally holding said plunger at its forward terminal of movement in said body; a head on the forward end of said plunger, and a cushion on said handle for engaging said plate, substantially as described. 7

2. A device of the character described comprising a tubular body open at its forward end; a flaring mouth portion at said end of said body; comprising a frame consisting of a plurality of spaced bars diverging for the greater port-ion of their length and terminating in parallel ends, circular bands connecting the ends of said parallel portions, and a net covering said frame, a longitudinally slidable plunger mounted substantially centrally in said body and having its forward end terminating adjacent the forward end of said body when said plunger is at its forward terminal of movement in said body; plunger actuating means adapted to normally hold the latter at its forward terminal of movement in said body; means for manually operating said plunger; and a head on the forward end of said plunger, substantially as described;

3. A device of the character described comprising a tubular body open at its forward end; a flaring mouth portion. at said end of said body; comprising a frame consisting of a plurality of spaced bars diverg ing for the greater portion of their length and terminating in parallel ends, circular bands connecting the ends of said parallel portions and a net covering said frame, a longitudinally slidable plunger mounted in said body and having its forward end terminating adjacent the forward end of said body when said: plunger is at its forward terminal of movement in said body; elastic bands normally holding said plunger at its forward terminal of movement in said body; In testimony whereof I have signed my means for manually operating said plunger; name to this specification in the presence of 10 means on the outermost of said circular two subscribing Witnesses.

bands for adjustably securing said elastic bands thereto, guides on the other circular PAUL KRUGER' band for said elastic bands, and a head on Witnesses:

the forward end of said plunger, substan- RUDoLr HAWKER,

tially as described. WILTS THINNAMY.

Copies o1? this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington. D. G. 

